Diagnostic instrument



Patented Mar. 1, 1,927.

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. DE ZENG, OF MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO DE ZENGSTANDARD COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT.

Application filed February 17, 1923. Serial No. 619,552.

The chief object of my invention is to produce a diagnostic instrumentwhich will be simple in both construction and design and which will givea direct illumination of the object from the lamp.

Another object of my invention is to pro- .duce a diagnostic instrumenthaving -a handle and a lamp carried by the handle and so placed in thediagnostic instrument that the light will fall upon the object withoutinterfering with the line ofobservation.

Another object of my invention is-to so construct a diagnosticinstrument that the handle may be detached therefrom and the.

duce an otoscope of extremely simple con.-'

struction wherein a handle carrying an electric lamp may be detachablyconnected so that the lamp globe or filament is within the casing whileits base is in the handle.

Another object of my invention is .to' produce a diagnostic instrumentand more par ticularly an otoscope in which the lamp proper, while beingwithin the body portion proper, has its electrical contact outside thebody portion. This construction eliminates all unnecessary andtroublesome electrical connections now existing inall other types ofotoscopes having the lamp proper within the body portion proper. Itfurthermore removes all electrical connections of whatever type ornature from the otoscope proper, the same being confined to the handle.

7 Another object of my invention is to so construct a diagnosticinstrument and particularly an otoscope. that stock lamps of universalutility,- commonly known as the flash-light lamps of commerce, may beemployed to directly illuminate the object and to thereby reduce notonly the cost of maintenance of the instrument but make it possible forthe user to procure his supplies from any electrical supply store in thecountry. Furthermore, through the adaptation of these lamps in this way,both the mechanical and the electrical construction of the instrumentare greatly simplified, and the cost of manufacture consequentlyreduced.

Another object of my invention is to produce a diagnostic instrumenthaving an electric lamp which is properly shielded so as to prevent thelight from interfering with the eye of the examiner, also toconcentratethe light properly. upon the object for increased illumination thereof,and to selec tively retard certain wave lengths of light when that isdesired or to diffuse the when required.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention,.I have shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results. stood that the various instrumentalities of which myinvention consists can be variously arranged and organized. and that myinvention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization ofthese instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

' Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a vdiagnostic/instrument,embodying my invention.

Figure 2 represents, on an enlarged scale, a vertical sectional view ofthe upper portion of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a shield employed, in detachedposition.

Figure 4 represents a sectional view. of a modified form of shield andnipple assembled.

Figure 5 represents a vertical sectional view of another form of shieldwith a lens and a screen.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, in carrying out ,my invention, I employ ahandle 1 which light It is, however, to be underthe lamp 3 and isrotatable, so as to open and close the lamp circuit. 5 designates a bodyportion having within it a chamber 6, said body portion having a hole inits lower portion, as indicated at 7 in which is soldered, brazed orotherwise secured a shield 8, having its lower portion threaded andadapted to engage the threaded extension 9 of theextension 2 of thehandle 1, it being understood that said body portion 5 and shield 8 aredetachable as a unit from the handle in the construction seen whichconstruction can be modified, as shown in Figure 4, to be hereinafterreferred to.

At the end of the chamber 6 is located the cap 9 having the lens 10therein and at the other end of said chamber is the speculum 11, whichis in threaded engagement with the walls of the body 5. The shield 8 hasthe aperture or opening 12 therein, whereby the light rays from the lamp3 are permitted to be discharged into the speculum 11.

It will be understood that while I have shown the cap 9 and the speculum11, as in threaded engagement with the body 5, other forms ofconnections may be employed, if desired.

In Figure 4, I have shown another form of shield designated as 13 havinga push fit on the upper exterior portion of the nipple 14 which latteris secured to the wall of the chamber 5, said nipple being internallythreaded, as will be apparent from Figure 4, for engagement with thethreaded extension 9, seen in Figure 2.

In Figure 5, I have shown another form of shield, which may be employed,which I have designated as 15, said shield being internally threaded atits lower portion at 16, to engage the threaded extension 9, seen inFigure 2.

The forward portion of the shield 15'has the extension 17, in the outerend of which is secured the lens 18 in the rear of which is a screen 19.

In Figure 1, I have shown a pneumatic attachment, which may be employed,comprising the compressible bulb 20, and the tube 21, the upper end ofwhich latter is connected with the chamber 6, seen in F ig ure 2.

The advantages of my novel construction are as follows:

By placing the lamp in the handle of the instrument and connecting thehandle with the instrument in such a manner as to bring the lamp intooperative position for directly illuminating the object, I greatlyeheapen and simplify the construction. By introducing the lamp throughan opening in the side of the instrument and by the use of the shield, Iam enabled to get a clear and unobstructed view of the object, underdirect illumination from the lamp. I also obviate the necessity ofhaving any electrical connections of any kind within the instrumentproper. I have furthermore by this novel construction obviated thenecessity for any condensing lenses or reflectors common to other formsof diagnostic instruments of this general character. 7

As hereinbefore pointed out, the shield for the lamp may either bepermanently fixed to the body 5 of the instrument proper or it may bedetachable and when detachable, both the shield and the lamp may beremoved from operative position through the body 5 after removing eitherthe end cap 9 with the lens, or the speculum 11.

In order to concentrate more light upon the object, I have devised thenovel construction seen in Figure 5, wherein the ex- 1 tension 17 andlens 18 are employed; In order to variegate the type of illumination, Ihave shown a screen 19, which may be used either independently or withthe lens 18.

If it is important to use diffused light for examining the object orillumination in certain colors, then the screen 19 may be varied forobtaining these variations in the illumination.

One of the greatest advantages in my novel construction lies in thedetachability of the handle 1, which may or may not carry the lamp, butwhen the handle does carry the lamp, then the same lamp and handle maybe utilized with other diagnostic instruments by connecting them in amanner similar to that shown in Figure 2.

Another advantage of my invention is in its novel construction whichprovides for the use of the standard or stock lamps of commerce which,while obtainable in practically every town, city and hamlet in thecountry, are very much cheaper in cost-than the special lamps used inother similar diagnosti'c instruments. I

As already pointed out, the elimination of the electrical connectionsfrom the 'instrument proper and particularly from the chamber'6 ofFigure 2 removes at once the possibility of disarrangement of partsnecessary to the proper performance of the lamp, which in other similarforms of diagnostic instruments has been found to be efiremelyunsatisfactory. While I have shown the lamp 3 as being carried by theextension 2 of the handle 1, nevertheless said lamp may be carried in aseparate holder, which may be detachably connected with the handle 1 byany suitable coupling means.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful diagnosticinstrument while I have, in the present instance,shown and describedpreferred embodiments thereof which will give in'practice satisfactoryand reliable results, it is to be understood that these embodiments aresusceptible of modification in various particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a diagnostic instrument, a speculum barrel having an opening inone side thereof, a lamp cap having an opening in one side thereof andhaving a portion of its outer surface secured to the speculum barrelaround the opening therein and having a portion of its inner surfacethreaded, a handle having a threaded portion adapted to engage thethreaded portion of the cap, and a lamp secured to the handle portionadapted to fit into the cap and transmit light through the openingtherein when the threaded portion of the handle is screwed into the cap.

2. In a diagnostic instrument, a speculum barrel having an opening inone side thereof, a lamp cap having an opening in one side thereof andhaving a portion of its outer surface secured to the speculum barrelaround the opening therein and having a portion of its inner surfacemade into a connecting section, a handle having a connecting sectionadapted to interengage with the connecting sect-ion in the cap, and alamp secured to the handle portion adapted to fit into the cap andtransmit light through the opening therein when the connecting sectionsof the cap and handle are engaged.

3. In a diagnostic instrument, a speculum barrel having an opening inone side thereof, a lamp cap having an opening in one side thereofsecured in the opening in the speculum barrel, a tubular member in theopening of the cap, a lens in the tubular member, a handle fitting inthe lens cap, and a lamp on the handle projecting into the lens cap totransmit light through the tubular member and the lens therein.

4. In a diagnostic instrument, a speculum barrel having an opening inone side thereof, a lamp cap having an opening in one side thereofsecured in the opening in the speculum barrel, a tubular member in theopening of the cap, a lens in the tubular member, a diffusing member inthe tubular member aligned with the lens, a handle having a portionfitting into the lamp cap, a lamp in the handle projecting into the lampcap to transmit light through the tubular member and the lens anddiffusing member therein.

5. In a device of the character described, a tubular body portion havingan opening in the lower side, a speculum at one end of the body portion,a covered cap shield having an opening on the side next to the speculumsecured in the opening in the body portion, a lens in the opening of theshield, a difi'using member aligned with the lens, and a lamp in theshield.

, HENRY L. DE ZENG.

